Chapter 71: Running Out

Emma Johnson's POV

I knew every sketch in that book bore an uncanny resemblance to Emily's competition entries.

And in the bottom right corner of each page, dates were clearly marked—the earliest one from five years ago. Years before Emily had ever entered a single competition or made any public appearance.

"This... this can't be possible!" a young judge gasped.

"They're nearly identical to Emily's work."

The room fell into dead silence.

Everyone exchanged glances, their eyes darting nervously, guilt written all over their faces.

Everett's expression turned ugly, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

The organizing committee director looked equally stunned.

In an instant, all eyes turned toward Emily, who'd been watching from the sidelines like this was some kind of show.

Her eyes immediately welled up with tears. She threw herself at my feet, sobbing dramatically.

"Emma! Why are you doing this to me? I know you've never liked me—that you're jealous Dad loves me more, jealous of my mom... but this is my dream! You know how hard I've worked for this competition! How could you—"

She suddenly slapped herself across the face several times, the sharp sounds echoing through the office.

"I was wrong! I apologize! Yes, I plagiarized you! Are you satisfied now?"

Emily cried pitifully, her performance seemingly heartfelt. But to me, she looked like nothing more than a lunatic having a breakdown.

Everett seized on this like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline. "Emma, you're heartless! Forging evidence to frame Emily—resorting to any means necessary. Absolutely vicious! Organizing committee, I strongly recommend we immediately disqualify Emma!"

Following Emily's convincing self-inflicted slaps, the previously wavering audience was swayed once again.

"That's right! We can't let her ruin the competition!"

"Poor Emily..."

"Maybe the evidence really is fake..."

Some staff members and a few judges, influenced by Emily's tears and Everett's words, began whispering among themselves.

"Mr. Stevens, you really will stop at nothing to promote Emily, won't you?" I said.

I glanced down at the woman kneeling before me. From my angle, those slap marks on her face barely touched the fury burning in my chest.

"Since you're already slapping yourself, why not put more force into it?"

I crouched down, grabbed her wrist, and delivered several more sharp slaps myself.

"That way more people will feel sorry for you."

Emily clearly hadn't expected this. She immediately began wailing louder.

In my past life, I'd been manipulated countless times by Emily's tears and displays of weakness. The rage from those betrayals still hadn't dissipated.

"Emma! Stop this instant!" Everett's cane struck the floor with a heavy thud. "Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! Someone get her out of here!"

Somehow he'd climbed onto the table, pointing his cane in my direction, shrieking at the top of his lungs.

I released Emily's hand and turned to face Everett directly.

"If you'd bothered to have any designer examine the oxidation levels of these sketches, you'd know whether they're real or fake. Everett, as a judge, you refuse to distinguish right from wrong and blindly show favoritism. Do you deserve the respect that comes with your position?"

David Wright, the organizing committee director, looked overwhelmed. He stepped forward and grabbed my arm, lowering his voice.

"Ms. Johnson, this situation can't escalate any further. Please, just let it go."

I turned to look at him and let out a cold laugh.

So there were a few people here with functioning eyes after all. But they deliberately avoided my gaze, too afraid to look at me.

Even knowing the truth, they wanted to silence me, hoping to sweep everything under the rug without incident.

"Why should I? Who's going to give me justice?"

I shook him off, laughing bitterly. "This is what you call fairness and justice?"

David's brow furrowed. In a voice only the two of us could hear, he hinted, "Ms. Johnson, Emily is in a relationship with Ethan Campbell. If he finds out about this, we're all finished. Besides, you don't have any other evidence. No one will believe you. Rather than continue this, why not just—"

"Why not just pretend nothing happened? That way you won't offend the esteemed Everett, and you won't drag yourselves down either, right?"

I saw through his intentions immediately and finished his sentence for him.

Caught off guard, David nodded. "Exactly, Ms. Johnson. Sometimes the truth isn't that important... This way everyone benefits, doesn't it?"

David wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

He was clearly trying to smooth things over—possibly even willing to sacrifice me under pressure.

Meanwhile, Emily's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile through her tears.

Everett also showed a hint of smugness.

In their eyes, apparently, the truth was so easily crushed.

But in mine, the truth mattered more than anything.

"You want other evidence?" I suddenly laughed softly.

"I didn't want to make this so ugly. But you've pushed me too far. I have no choice but to bring out my trump card. If I'm going down, I'm taking everyone else with me."

I picked up my phone and tapped the screen a few times.

Then, through the Bluetooth system connected to the venue's sound equipment, an audio recording began to play throughout the judging chamber.

It was the one I'd recorded last time.

Everett and Emily's intimate conversation after a meeting had ended.

Every word was crystal clear, making it unmistakable who the voices belonged to.

Instantly, the room erupted.

"It's actually Everett and Emily! What explosive news—they're having an affair! Emily really has no shame. Isn't Everett pushing sixty?"

"Right? No wonder Everett thinks so highly of Emily. Turns out he's impressed by her bedroom skills."

"Well, now everything makes sense. I really misjudged Emily."

The expressions on everyone's faces in that office became absolutely priceless.

They instinctively looked toward Emily and Everett, their disgust impossible to hide.

And Emily, who'd been sobbing just moments ago, now looked deathly pale, eyes wide with horror, as if she'd seen a ghost.

"You..."

"Sorry, exclusive footage. I was planning to let Everett retire with dignity, but he insisted on being aggressive. Look what a mess this has become."

I turned to face the shocked David, waving my phone.

"I'm willing to have this recording legally notarized by the organizing committee. But I also hope you'll properly investigate the relationships between judges and contestants. Otherwise, it's unfair to all the other participants."

A faint smile played on my lips.

Everett's vision went dark. Clutching his chest, he collapsed straight to the floor.

The scene descended into chaos. Meanwhile, I held my phone screen up to the camera, ensuring those outside could see clearly too.

A sudden commotion erupted from beyond the office.

David's face had turned ashen. "What's happening?"

A staff member opened the door, glanced outside, then turned back, trembling with fear.

"All... all the contestants have come out."